Improvement in knockdown butter-boxes



E. M. BUROHARD. Knock-down Butter-Box.

Ma iars. Patented Jan. 14, 1879.-

WETNESSES IJV'V'EJV'TOR Z/ V Attorney N- PETERS, PHOTOLITHOGRAPHER, WASHINGTON, D, C.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

EDWARDS M. BUROHARD, OF WASHINGTON, DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA.

IMPROVEMENT IN KNOCKDOWN BUTTER-BOXES.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 211,318, dated January 14, 1879 application filed down box and fastening, and Fig. 2 a perspecti veview of the bottom or print portion thereof. The object of my invention is to facilitate the transfer of butter from the dairy to the table of the consumer in a convenient manner and a neat and attractive form; and to this end my invention consists, first, in a knock-- down boa whose sides and ends are provided with dovetails which permit their expansion by outwardhorizontal movement, butpre'vent their separation by vertical movement, and which has a free top and bottom, and is held together by any suitable means; second, in a box having dovetails, as above recited, and a bottom provided with a print and fitting the inside of the walls of the box, and a plain cover resting on the walls of the box, and in suitable means for holding the parts together; and, third, in a peculiar fastening for the box.

The side and end pieces of the box A are dovetailed together, as shown in Fig. 1, and the bottom accurately fits between these pieces. All the parts of the box are to be made of light and porous wood, which will quickly absorb moisture. I contemplate so preparing the wood by chemical means that it will be rendered perfectly odorless. I soak the pieces of' the box in water until they are swelled or expanded sufficiently to closely unite when put together. Upon the upper surface, D, of the bottom portion of the box I form a design of any desired pattern for impartin g a print to the butter.

To assist in retaining the dovetailed parts in place, as well as the top and bottom, I employ a fastening, G, which consists of a bar with upturned ends, a a, to which are soldered or otherwise secured two spring-arms, E E. When the box is put together the spring-arms E E are pressed toward each other, and the fastening slipped over the box. The spring December 13, 1878.

arms when released tightly clasp the box and securely clamp its parts. The cover of the box is plain and flat, and rests loosely upon the top of the sides and ends. By simply pressing the two arms E E toward each other the cover may be easily withdrawn when desired.

When the butter is to be withdrawn from the box the. fastening is taken off in the same' manner that it was put on. Then the top is removed and the box turned over, after which the sides and ends are removed by pulling them horizontally away from each other and away from the butter, thus parting the dovetailed joints and permitting the removal of the print part, leaving the butter in a compact and neat condition, with a clearly-cut print upon the top. The parts of the box may then be readily and perfectly cleansed and returned for reusage.

While I have shown and described a prepared form of fastening, I do not wish to be limited thereto, as the fastening may be made wholly of wire.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. A knockdown box having ends and sides dovetailed to unite them and permit their I separating horizontally and prevent their parting by vertical movement, and having free top and bottom without dovetails, and provided with suitable means for holding all its parts together, as and for the purpose set forth.

I 2. A knockdown boxhaving dovetailed ends 

